Rstobb



Aug. 11, 1959 A. R. STOBB 2,399,199

'TENSION CONTROL-MEANS FOR A WEB OF PAPER Filed Dec. 16-, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet i A 7 Tom/EV ANTON R. STOBB A. R. STQBB TENSION CONTROLMEANS FOR A WEB OF PAPER Filed Dec. 16, 1957 3 Sheet s 2 ANTON STOBB VATTORNEY mm 1i 1 A 9 2 a, .w. mw w 7 Q 1 W v1 Q 1 15:? v-10 \E/fl M VAug. 11, 1959 I A. RJSTOBB' 2,899,199

' .TENSION CONTROL- MEANS FOR AYIWEB OF PAPER Filed Dec. 16,1957 3Sheets- Sheet a Pic. 8

/Nl/EN 7"OR:

' 82 .ANTON a. STOBB T TOP/V157 TENSION CONTROLMEANS FOR A WEB OF PAPERAnton R. Stobb, Racine, Wis.

Application December 16, 1957, Serial No. 703,028

Claims. (Cl. 271-2.3)

This invention relates to web tension control means and, moreparticularly, it relates to means for controlling the tension in a webof paper being fed through a printing press.

In passing paper in web form through a printing press, there is awell-known problem with regard to maintaining the paper in a tautcondition under constant tension when the press is being initiallystarted, and when the press is running at full speed, and also when thepress is being slowed down or stopped. Without control of the papertension, the printing will not be as desired, and particularly so inmulti-color printing where a plurality of printing cylinders areoperating on the paper such that the various impress-ions or printingsmust be located in superimposed positions, one over the other, so thatthere is the desired registration of the various impressions on the webof paper. Also, without control of tension in the web of paper, therewill be paper waste, and the paper is sometimes torn when the tension momentarily exceeds the strength of the paper.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention 'to provide a means forcontrolling the tension of a web of paper or the like with said meansincluding provision for placing a constant tension on the paper passingthrough a printing press when the press is being operated underacceleration and normal running deceleration. 7

Still another object of this invention is to provide a means for placinga constant tension on a web of paper so that said means can be appliedto the paper at a point remote from the roll source or wind-up roll ofthe paper, and thus the problems of altering the paper linear speed withdecreasing or increasing roll diameters are avoided.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved meansfor increasing the frictional contact between a web of paper and a rollover which it is trained. In accomplishing this particular object, thetension in the web of paper can be controlled by the tension controlmeans in conjunction with the frictional increasing means mentionedherein.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. '1 is a side elevational view of a fragment of a printingapparatus, diagrammatically shown, and showing a web of paper trainedthrough the apparatus, and also, showing the disposition of a preferredembodiment of the invention as related to the apparatus; parts arefragmentarily shown and also other pants are shown in section.

speed and Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned view taken on the line I 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line '3"3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of an alternative means for maintaining aweb of paper in tight contact with a 7 roll over which the paper istrained.

Patented Aug. 11, 1959 Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 isanenlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 andshowing a fragment of the latter.

Fig. 7 is a view of other printing apparatus showing a web of papertrained thereto and showing the utilization of only a part of theconstruction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram for control of the electric motor employed.

Fig. 9 is an-elevational view of another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of Fig. 9.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout theviews.

Fig. 1 shows printing press cylinders 10, and with the cylinders beingshown in two sets, they can be re ferred to as a multi-color press witheach 'setof cylinders placing its respective color and impression on aweb of paper 11 which is trained through the press and between thecylinders 10 as shown. The paper 11 originates from a supply roll, notshown, andtravels around a cylinder or incoming roller 12 which isrotatably mounted, and the paper continues on, around guide roll ers 13and 14 to the printing cylinders 10, as mentioned. On the ou tlet sideof the printing press, the web 11 is trained over the guide roller 16and continues on to an outgoing roller 12', which is the same asincoming roller 12, and then to other guide rollers 15 and 20 from wherethe web may go to a cutting and folding mecha nism, not shown. Thearrows on the web 11 show the direction of movement, and the view. issomewhat diagrammatic, but it is adequate'for a complete disclosure ofthis invention.

In the operation of a multi-color press, it should be understood that itis important to register the various colors in their positions, and inorder to do so, the en: sion of the paper web 11 must be preciselycontrolled, and such control requires that the paper befheld at aconstant tension from, say, the point of the roller 12 on the incomingside of the press to the side of the roller 12 on the outgoing side-ofthe press so that the tension of the paper is under the desired tensionthroughout its run through the press. Also, it should be understoodthat' the printing cylinders 10 do not normally bear against the paperandthereby print the paper for a (run three hundred and sixty degreerota-tion of the cylinders, -but usually a maximum of three hundreddegrees of rotation is utilized inlthe printing length of the cylinder,and thus the paper i's'not continuously held between the pairs ofcylinders It) so that the paper could be linearly displaced with respectto the linear displacement of the circumference of the printingcylinders 10.

Referring .to Figs. 1 and 2 and with attention directed to the cylinder12, it will be seen that the web 11 is trained between the cylinder 12.and the smaller roller or cylinder 17 which is mounted to be underspring tension and thus pressed against the paper l'lso that the latteris pressed between the roller 1'7 and the cylinder 12 and is wrappedaround three-fourths of the cylinder 12.. The paper 11 is thuscontrolled or held between these two rollers or cylinders, and it willbe noted that there is duplicate structure at the entrance and exit sideof. the press so there is the same arrangement at each side of theprinting cylinders. The rollers 12 and 17 are suitably supported in aframe 18 which has spacedapart frame members 18, shown in :Fig. 2, and ashaft 19 extends between the frame members for supporting the roller 17in its spring mounting, as mentioned. "l and 2 show a support arm 21which is conventionally clamped onto the shaft 19 to be in afixedpositionj'the'rer on while a bell crank 22 with a spaced-apar't'arms "isrotatably mountedon the shaft '19. A screw 24 is then slidably mountedthrough the arm 21 to be mounted be- 7 screw to adjustably spring urgethe bell crank and the roller 17 on the paper 11. Of course, several ofthe rollers 17 could be and normally would be employed along the roller12 for the purpose mentioned.

It will also be seen that the roller 12 is suitably mounted in the framemembers 18 by means of ball bearings 27 which are at each end of asleeve 28, as indicated on the shown end, and the sleeves 28 are on bothends 'of the roller 12 to support the hollow cylinder 29 of the roller12. The important feature of this invention resides in controlledrotation of the roller 12, and such control V will now be described.Fig. 1 shows a pulley 31 which is driven along with the usual andconventional drive means of theprinting press or the cylinders 10, and ashaft 32 is thus rotated by the pulley 31, and it will be seen that theshaft drives a bevel gear 33 which is in mesh with the bevel gear 34mounted in frame members 36 and with ball bearings 37. This is aconventional drive relation between the press and the paper feed. The'gear 34 drives the spider member 38 which rotatably supports the fourplanetary gears 39 as shown in Fig. 3. The gears 39 are in meshingrelation with a ring gear '41 which is mounted on a ring 40 attached tothe sleeve 28 such that the gear 41, ring 40, and sleeve 28 withcylinder 29 all rotate together. At this time it should 'also be noticedthat the roller 12 includes a shaft 42 which extends axiallytherethrough to be rotatably supported by the ball bearings 43 disposedbetween the sleeve 28 and the shaft 42 such that the sleeve and theshaft can rotate independent of each other. Also, the

end of the shaft 42 has a sun gear 44 mounted thereon 'for rotation withthe shaft, and for meshing engagement with the planetary gears 39. Theopposite end of the shaft 42 has a spur gear 46 attached thereto to bein meshing relation with a pinion gear 47 driven by a constant torquemotor 48.

The main drive of the printing press or the cylinders 10 thus istransmitted through the bevel gears and the planetary gearing describedto the roller cylinder 29 while the energy of the constant torque motor48 is transmitted to the shaft 42 through the gears described. gt;

The two sources of power are such that the ring gear 41 is driven in thedirection of the arrow shown outside of Fig. 3, and the sun gear 44 isdriven in the direction of the arrow shown on it in Fig. 3. With thisarrangement and with the output of the motor 48 being a constant amount,the tension placed on the web of paper as it is trained between therollers 12 and 17 is a constant amount as desired. The motor 48 ispreferably an electric motor of a constant torque type which does in-'herently produce a constant output torque irregardless of 3 speed. Toproduce and maintain a constant tension in 'the web of paper, the roller12 is rotated at a certain speed which will result in the desiredtension in the web. If the web tension decreases momentarily, the rollerwill be rotated faster as the motor 48 rotates the sun gear to increasethe rotation of the planet gears on their individual axes in the spider38. Normally the sun gear and the constant torque motor will not move asthe motor merely exerts a constant force on the sun gear to provide thereaction for the rotation of the roller 12 at the desired speedaccording to the tension desired in the web. Since the motor 48 is anelectric motor, electrical controls for the motor permit the torque ofthe latter to be setas desired.

Fig. 1 shows that there is a constant torque motor on to place tensionin the web of paper in that the motors urge the paper in oppositedirections to place the paper under tension through the printing press,as mentioned. The motor 48 on the incoming press side will operate toplace a retarding force on the web so that constant tension ismaintained. In this arrangement, both of the planetary gearings arevariable speed or differential drive means having two-power inputconnections, namely, the sun gear 44 and the spider 38.

Fig. 7 shows another arrangement of what is termed a printing presswhich includes the master cylinder 51 which is rotatably mounted and hasa plurality of printing or impression cylinders 52 disposed therearoundwith the web of paper 11 trained between the cylinder 51 and thecylinders 52 as shown. Here, also, the web of paper is shown to becoming from a cylinder and trained about a first guide roller 53 and theroller 12 to continue on to the guide roller 54 and into the pressbetween the press cylinders mentioned. Also, the companion roller 17 isemployed with the roller 12 to hold the paper between the rollers 12 and17 as previously described. Again, the drive of the press is connectedto the roller 12 to rotate the latter in the forward direction of paperfeed shown by the arrows on the paper. Here, also, the constant torquemotor 48 with its spur gear 47 is shown to be in driving relation withthe gear 46 on the roller '12. It will also be understood that thegearing of the planetary type, as described in connection with Figs. 2and 3, can be applied on the roller 12 in the same manner as previouslydescribed. In the Fig. 7 arrangement, it will then be understood thatthe printing cylinders 52 will at all times have one thereof in contactwith the cylinder 51 so that the paper 11 will be positively heldbetween the cylinder 51 and any one or more of the cylinders 52. Thus,the only requirement for controlling the tension of the paper is theprovision of one constant torque motor 48 and one combination of therollers 12 and 17, and this provision is shown on the incoming side ofthe press. This arrangement permits the constant torque motor and therollers 12 and 17 to control the speed of the paper and the tension ofthe paper as the web of paper is passing to the printing press, and thusthe desired result of controlled tension and the maximum in registrationof multi-color printing is achieved by having the motor 48 operate in adirection to urge the web in a retarded direction as it urges thecylinder '12 in reverse of the direction of rotation induced by thedrive off the press.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show another means of holding the web of paper to theroller 12 so that the web can be properly tensioned as desired. In thisarrangement, it will be seen that the roller 12 has an air chamber 56disposed along the length of the roller and partially around thecircumference of the roller to be in close proximity to the roller at apoint where the web of paper is also wrapped around the circumference ofthe roller 12. When air is introduced into the chamber 56 by means of apipe or hose 57, the interior of the chamber 56 is pressurized such thatthe air pressure is exposed to the paper 11 to press the latter in firmcontact with the cylinder 12 so that the friction between the paper andthe cylinder is at a desired amount so that the paper will always be inrolling contact with the cylinder even though the paper will be placedunder tension as mentioned. In order that the air pressure within thechamber 56 be fully or virtually fully effective on the paper 11, it isshown that there be provided pressure bars 58 along the length of thechamber 56 and throughout the width of the paper 11. The bars 58 areshown to be urged downwardly toward the paper by means of a compressionspring 59 which is controlled in its tension by a pressure bar 61 and ascrew 62 threaded into the vessel 56 by the nut 63 shown in the top ofthe vessel 56. Also, a retained bolt 64 is shown to project through theside of the vessel 56 and engage a slot 66 in the side of the pressurebar and thereby retain the latter within the cut-out 67 in the vessel56. Thus, by adjusting the screw 62, the spring 59 will exert more orless force downwardly on the pressure bar 58 to urge the latter towardthe paper 11. Then, when air is introduced into the vessel 56, itsoutlet is under the pressure bars 58 which are thus slightly lifted bythe escaping pressurized air, and the balance between the energy of thespring 59 and the escaping air will determine the spacing of the tips'68 of the pressure bars 58 from the surface of the paper 11. Of course,it is sometimes preferred that'the pressure bar tips 68 be spaced fromthe paper so that there is no contact of the paper which might have beenjust printed. Also, to close off the ends of the vessel 56, end closures69 are attached to the vessel to extend therefrom and down into contactwith the circumference of the roller 12.

It should thus be understood that compressed air can then be disposedimmediately over the surface of the paper 11 as the latter travels inrolling contact with the roller 12, and the pressure of the air willhold the paper in exact rolling contact with the roller 12 as desired.Of course, the vessel 56 and its related parts are then substituted forthe member 22 which also serves the function of holding the paper to theroller 12.

Fig. 8 shows a Wiring diagram for control of the motors 48, and in thisdiagram it is the intention that the motors 48 be controlled to producethe desired output during the period of acceleration and the period ofnormal run and also the period of deceleration of the printing press andthe web speed mechanism described. Thus, a switch box 71 is shown withthree wires 72, 73 and 74 leading therefrom to rheostats 80. Three-wayswitches 78 and 79 are connected across the lines 72, 73, and 74 whichconnect to the motor 48. Also, rheostats 80 are shown in pairs in eachof the lines 72, 73, and 74. Depending upon the connections in the box71 and the switches 78 and 79, the motor 48 will be operated duringacceleration, normal running, and deceleration of the press to provideconstant web tension as desired.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a torque motor 81 supported on a frame 82 andelectrically operated to be in direct control of the roller 83 mountedin the frame 82. In this instance, it will be understood by one skilledin the art that the output shaft 84 of the motor 81 is coupled to theroller 83 which serves the function of the roller 12 and would have acompanion roller 17 holding the web of paper to the circumference 'ofthe roller 83. Thus, the motor 81 is applied directly to the roller 83and is electrically controlled in the manner mentioned to exert aconstant tension on the web. Like in Fig. l, a motor 81 and a roller 83could be located on each side of the press, with the motor on theincoming side exerting a retarding force on the web, and the motor onthe outgoing side exerting an advancing force.

While specific embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it should be obvious that certain changes could be madetherein, and the scope of this invention should, therefore, be limitedonly by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A means for controlling tension in a web of paper passing through aprinting press, comprising a cylinder rotatably mounted for support ofsaid web of paper as the latter enters said printing press, meansadjacent said cylinder for pressing said web of paper into contact withsaid cylinder, a differential drive means connected to said cylinder andpowered by the drive of said printing press for rotating said cylinderin one direction for feeding said web of paper toward said printingpress, and a constant torque motor connected to said differential drivemeans for rotatably urging said cylinder in the other direction to anamount necessary to maintain a constant tension on said web of paperwhile the latter is being fed into said printing press.

2. A means for controlling tension in a web of paper passing through aprinting press, comprising a cylinder rotatably mounted for support ofsaid web of paper as the latter enters said printing press, meansadjacent said cylinder for pressing said web of paper into contact withsaid cylinder, a differential drive means connected tosaid cylinder,driving means connected between said printing press and saiddifferential drive means for rotating said cylinder in a forwarddirection for feeding said web of paper toward said printing press, anelectric constant torque motor in rotational driving relation with saiddifferential drive means for rotatably urging said cylinder in thereverse direction .to an amount necessary to maintain a constant tensionon said web of paper while the latter is being fed into said printingpress, and electric controls connected .to said motor for governing thelatter to produce said constant tension during acceleration andconstant'speed and deceleration of said motor.

3. A means for controlling tension in a web of .paper passing through aprinting press, comprising a cylinder rotatably mounted for support ofsaid web of paper :for movement through said printing press, meansadjacent said cylinder :for urging said web of .paper into contact withsaid cylinder, planetary gear means connected between .said printingpress and said cylinder with the ring gear of said planetary gear meansrotatable with said cylinder for rotating the latter in a direction formoving said web .of paper through said printing press and with theplanet gears of said planetary .gear means intermeshed between said ringgear and the sun gear and being connected to and .orbitally displaced bythe drive .to said printing press, and a constant torque motor indriving relation with the sun gear of said planetary gear means forrotatably urging the latter in the direction and to an amount necessaryto maintain a constant tension on said web of paper while the latter isbeing moved through said printing press.

4. A means for controlling tension in a webof paper passing through aprinting press, comprising a paper web supporting roller rotatablymounted on the incoming and the outgoing sides of said press forfrictional engagement of said web, means adjacent each said roller forholding said web in contact with the cincumference of each said rolleras the latter rotates in a forward direction of-feeding said web throughsaid press, rotational drive means connected between said press and eachsaid roller for driving the latter in said forward direction, adifferential drive means connected to each said roller, a constanttorque motor drivingl-y connected to said differential'drive means ofsaid roller located on said incoming side of said press for rotationallyurging the latter said roller in a direction reversecf said forwarddirection, and a constant torque motor drivingly connected to saiddifferential drive means of said roller located on said outgoing side ofsaid press for rotationally urging the latter said roller in saidforward direction, and said torque motors being of a capacity tomaintain a selected tension in said web fed through said press.

5. A means for controlling tension in a web of paper passing through aprinting press, comprising a paper web supporting roller rotatablymounted on the incoming and the outgoing sides of said press forfrictional engagement of said web, means adjacent each said roller forholding said web in contact with the circumference of each said rolleras the latter rotates in a forward direction of feeding said web throughsaid press, planetary gear means connected between said press and eachsaid roller for driving the latter in said forward direction with thering gear of said planetary gear means rotationally connected to saidcylinder, a constant torque motor drivingly connected to the sun gear ofsaid planetary gear means on said roller located on said incoming sideof said press for rotationally urging the latter said sun gear in saidforward direction, and a constant torque motor drivingly connected tothe sun gear of said planetary gear means on said roller located on saidoutgoing side of said press for rotationally urging the latter said sungear in a direction reverse of said forward direction, planet gearsintermeshed between each pair of said sun and ring gears and beinggeared to and orbitally displaced by the drive means of said press, andsaid torque motors being of a capacity to maintain a selected tension insaid web fed through said press.

6. A means for controlling tension in a web of paper passing through aprinting press, comprising a paper web supporting roller including ahollow cylinder and a concentric shaft extended therethrough with bothof the latter independently rotatably mounted on the incoming and theoutgoing sides of said press for frictional engagement of said web,means adjacent each said roller for holding said web in contact with thecircumference of each said cylinder as the latter rotates in a forwarddirection of feeding said web through said press, planetary gearingconnected to one end of each said roller with the ring gear of each saidplanetary gearing attached to each said cylinder to rotate the latterand with the sun gear of each said planetary gearing attached to eachsaid shaft to rotate with the latter, rotational drive means connectedbetween said press and each said ring gear for driving said cylinder insaid forward direction, a constant torque motor drivingly connected tosaid sun gear on said shaft located on said incoming side of said pressfor rotationally urging the latter said sun gear in a direction reverseof said forward direction, and a constant torque motor drivinglyconnected to said sun gear on said shaft located on said outgoing sideof said press for rotationally urging the latter said sun gear in saidforward direction, and said torque motors being of a capacity tomaintain a selected tension in said web fed through said press.

7. A means for controlling tension in a web of paper passing through aprinting press, comprising a roller including a hollow cylinder and aconcentric shaft extended therethrough with both of the latterindependently rotatably mounted for support of said web of paper formovement through said printing press, means adjacent said cylinder forurging said web into contact with said cylinder, planetary gearingconnected to one end of said roller with the ring gear of said planetarygearing attached to said cylinder to rotate the latter and with the sungear of said planetary gearing attached to one end of said shaft torotate with the latter, rotational drive means connected between saidpress and said ring gear for driving said cylinder in a direction formoving said web through said press, and a constant torque motor indriving relation with the other end of said shaft for rotationallyurging said sun gear in the direction and to an amount necesary tomaintain a constant tension on said web while the latter ismovingthrough said press.

8. A means for controlling tension in a web of paper passing through aprinting press, comprising a paper web supporting roller rotatablymounted for supporting said web when the latter is trained therearound,means adjacent said roller for holding said web in rolling contact withthe circumference of said roller as the latter rotates in a forwarddirection of feeding said web through said press, a variable speedrotational drive means connected between said press and said roller fordriving the latter in said forward direction, and a constant torquemotor drivinglyconnected tosaid variable'speed drive means forrotationally urging the said roller in a direction to maintain aselected tension in said web fed through said press.

a 9. A means for controlling tension in a web of paper which may bepassed through a printing press, which has a driving means comprising acylinder rotatably mounted for support of said web of paper to pass thelatter to said printing press, means adjacent said cylinder for pressingsaid web of paper into contact with said cylinder, ,a differential drivemeans connected to said cylinder and powered by said driving means ofsaid printing press for rotating said cylinder in one direction forfeeding said web of paper toward'said printing press, and a constanttorque motor in driving relation with said differential drive means forrotatably urging said cylinder in the other direction to an amountnecessary to maintain a constant tension on said web of paper while thelatter is standing still and while it is being fed into said printingpress.

10. A means for controlling tension in a web of paper passing through aprinting press with a cylinder rotatably mounted for support of said webof paper at one side of said printing press and with means adjacent saidcylinder for pressing said Web of paper into contact with said cylinderand with driving means connected between said printing press and saidcylinder for rotating the latter in the direction of movement of saidweb of paper through said printing press, the invention characterized bydifferential drive means connected to said cylinder, a constant torquemotor in driving relation with said differential drive means forrotatably urging said cylinder in a direction and to an amount necessaryto maintain a constant tension on said web of paper, and controlsconnected to said motor for operation of said motor while said press isboth inoperative and operative with respect to the movement of said webto maintain said constant tension at all times.

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